Eerie clash for Wolves team-mates
Friday 25th March 2011, 2:30PM GMT.
Serbia midfielder Nenad Milijas has warned Wolves team-mate and Northern Ireland winger Johnny Gorman he faces an eerie atmosphere.
The Red Star Stadium, which has a capacity of 55,538, is closed to home fans tonight for the Group C clash as punishment for Serbia, whose supporters rioted in a qualifier against Italy last November.
Milijas played for Red Star Belgrade for two years before joining Wolves in 2009 and believes the absence of fans will make for an unusual backdrop.
He said: “It’s going to be strange not having any of our fans there. But hopefully it won’t affect us too much because we have to focus so we can do the job.”
Gorman said: “The game will be strange because they can’t have any fans in but we’ve got a pocket of 1,000 Irish fans going.
“Nenad says it’s a big stadium not to have many fans in there so that will be interesting!
“It will be a strange experience and even if I don’t play I’ll learn a lot from that. I’ll do everything to play some part but I’m not as experienced as the other players.
“It’s just great experience to be around Jonny Evans and Kyle Lafferty which really helps me.
“If anything it makes me more hungry to succeed here.”
Despite not having played for Wolves’ first team – he is sitting his ‘A’ levels – and playing part-time in the Molineux academy – 18-year-old Gorman is hoping to win his sixth full cap.
But Wolves’ faith in the former Manchester United schoolboy has been reflected in a two-and-a-half year contract signed at Christmas.
Northern Ireland are without Birmingham keeper Maik Taylor (shoulder) and Rangers’ ex-Villa midfielder Steven Davis (hamstring), while boss Nigel Worthington has rewarded Fulham’s former Walsall loan player Chris Baird the captaincy to mark his 50th cap.
Birmingham striker Nikola Zigic (groin) is doubtful for Serbia.
UK Sport
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